Sport sponsorship: Forecasting the impact of the big events in 2022 January 2, 2022 Six months on from wading through the smashed bottles and broken dreams that littered Wembley Way after the calamitous Euro 2020 final, sports fans and sponsors can look forward to an abundance of major global events in 2022. As it happens, this year has been designated the United Nations International Year of Glass, so it’s [...]
Best of 2021: England rugby’s year dissected January 1, 2022 England rugby enjoyed highs and lows in 2021. In November, former Sale Sharks winger and 55-cap England back Mark Cueto, and City A.M.’s Matt Hardy, dissected Eddie Jones’ side across 2021. First published on 24 November. It’s been an extraordinary year for rugby. Initially empty stadiums, new found stars and the development of world class [...]
The Raeburn and Utrecht Shields: The newest, oldest trophies in rugby? November 25, 2021 It’s the one thing clubs strive for. Silverware. A piece of, usually, silver metal or varnished wood shaped into something teams grow to idealise. The trophies of note tend to be the ones which have been around for the longest, and adopting new ones doesn’t always have a lasting effect. So just what happens if [...]
International rugby players will soon be allowed to switch allegiances, World Rugby says November 24, 2021 From the beginning of next year, rugby players will be allowed to adopt a second international side – assuming they’ve given up playing for the first. Players will only be able to make the transfer once, and will need to stand-down from their first country for three years before they become available for the second [...]
Record £3.2bn in private equity deals for sports teams as funds target football, rugby and F1 November 22, 2021 The last twelve months saw a record £3.2bn of sports team acquisitions by private equity funds, almost treble last year’s total, as they targeted football, rugby and Formula 1 teams, according to new data shared with City A.M. this afternoon. Last year saw an all-time high of 11 PE purchases of stakes in sports teams [...]
Ollie Phillips: The Boks play simple, boring rugby, but winning is winning November 19, 2021 In tomorrow’s match with South Africa, England have their hardest test. Why? Because they know exactly what they’ll be coming up against. The Springboks don’t often play exciting rugby – it’s simple, boring rugby. They try to bully you, outmuscle you and, when in doubt, send the ball skyward and harass the catcher. It’s not [...]
Rob Simmons: Australia can beat England if they go through the front door November 12, 2021 International rivalries make sport tick. The anticipation ahead of the match, the key moments, the celebration, the comedown. Fixtures often rooted in factors long reaching from sport. When England and Australia meet each other in a sporting arena, winning feels just that little bit more meaningful. Rob Simmons, member of the rugby institution that is [...]
Aleki Lutui: Tonga need to express themselves against England November 5, 2021 It hasn’t been the easiest of periods for the paradise island nation of Tonga, somewhat isolated from the rest of the world during the pandemic with many unable to return home for nearly two years. In difficult times people look to sport for hope and in the ‘Ikale Tahi, the national rugby side, the people [...]
Ollie Phillips: Marcus Smith can be the catalyst for a new England team October 15, 2021 Marcus Smith is the name on everyone’s lips as Eddie Jones prepares to name his England squad for the Autumn Nations Series on Monday. The Harlequins fly-half was on fire on his first Premiership appearance of the season last Friday, coming off the bench to help Quins surge from 21-0 down to beat Bristol 52-24. [...]
Ollie Phillips: Steve Borthwick succeeding Eddie Jones is written in the stars September 30, 2021 Two of the most likely contenders to succeed Eddie Jones as England coach face off on Saturday when Steve Borthwick’s Leicester Tigers host Mark McCall’s Saracens. Speculation over who could get the job when Jones departs in 2023 resurfaced this week when England forwards coach Richard Cockerill ruled himself out of the running. Borthwick and [...]